We still have such a long way to go before LGBTQ people are equal global citizens, but 'tis the season to count ones blessings and I want to recap how all love warriors can have an attitude of gratitude this holiday season as we continue to advocate for equality under the law and equal dignity and respect.

This year marriage equality became law in Washington, DC, Mexico City, MX, Portugal, Iceland, and Argentina. Ireland granted its same-sex loving citizens access to civil unions. Proposition 8 had its day in federal court and was ruled unconstitutional. On December 6th the prop 8 case moves forward to the District Court which will hold a hearing on the lower court ruling.

Don't Ask Don't Tell was ruled unconstitutional and wonderful love warriors like Lt. Daniel Choi continue to advocate for DADT's immediate repeal by chaining himself to the White House fence a la women's suffragist style. (See Iron-Jawed Angels if you need a civil rights history refresher).

I'm also grateful that we elected the first openly transgender judge, Victoria Kowlakowski, and that under the Obama Administration more out LGBTQ people were nominated to government positions than ever before. This is a huge victory when you consider that when I applied for my government job in 1996, my "homosexuality" was all over my background investigation paperwork as an issue.

Molly and I, and 18,000 other same-sex couples in California, celebrated our second wedding anniversaries, and same-sex couples in Washington, DC, Vermont, Iowa, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts continue to say "I Do."

We can be grateful that Ricky Martin came out as did several closeted Republican politicians, including Roy Ashburn who is now openly supported LGBT issues, instead of voting them down. Ricky Martin was even on Oprah talking about being an openly gay man. The It's Get Better Campaign inspired some powerful coming out stories and allowed people to share the pain of being bullied and to have their stories heard.

I'm personally grateful that my new book Love Warriors: The Rise of the Marriage Equality Movement and Why It Will Prevail was released last month and I'm getting stellar reviews and already selling hundreds of copies.

So, even in the midst of DOMA, DADT, anti-gay bullying, and NOM, we still have so much to be grateful for. I hope that each and every one of you can find those things in your life which give you a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment and those that give you hope and let you know that we are moving in a better direction.

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